Stars survive Blues in Game 6 win

Dallas takes early three-goal lead, hangs on to tie series with St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- It came down to slivers, to millimeters, and moments and big saves at big times. Except, that wasn't how it was supposed to go. Not after the Dallas Stars took a 3-0 lead at 16:49 of the first period, knocking St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott out of the game and looking like a team full-speed ahead to Game 7.

Not quite. It wasn't that kind of game, with the Blues pushing, with the Stars reacting, with the ice in the Stars defensive zone worn out in the second and third periods, with the ice in the Stars offensive zone barely touched.

Blues' Hitchcock undecided on Game 7 goalie

St. Louis coach to 'sleep on' starter after Elliott's early exit

by
Louie Korac
/ NHL.com Correspondent

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott had been brilliant for his team all season, particularly the past three months. One would think it's inconceivable that Elliott would get pulled in a game with a chance to clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff series.

Stars' Lehtonen saves best for last

Flips script on Blues with key stops in final seconds of Game 6

ST. LOUIS -- It felt oh-so-familiar. There was a goaltender, making two huge saves, one right after the other. In Game 5, that was St. Louis' Brian Elliott, saving his team with back-to-back stops on Cody Eakin early in the third period. In Game 6, it was Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen, saving his team with back-to-back stops on Kevin Shattenkirk and Jaden Schwartz late in the third period.

Instant analysis: Stars at Blues, Game 6

Dallas proves Elliott is not infallible, gets big saves from Lehtonen to force Game 7

The Dallas Stars scored three goals in the first period on their way to a series-extending 3-2 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round at Scottrade Center on Monday. Dallas started with two goals in 20 seconds, at 4:53 by Mattias Janmark and 5:13 by birthday-boy Vernon Fiddler, then got another at 16:49 from Jason Spezza on the power play.

Stars defeat Blues to force Game 7

Dallas scores three first-period goals in Game 6, hangs on to avoid elimination

by
Louie Korac
/ NHL.com Correspondent

ST. LOUIS -- Dallas Stars coach Lindy Ruff best described a 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round at Scottrade Center on Monday by complimenting the opposing goalie.

"We can just flip the the script and say how well [Blues goalie Brian Elliott] played [in Game 5] and just change the name to [Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen]," Ruff said.

Stars score quick goals in Game 6

Janmark, Fiddler score 20 seconds apart early in first period against Blues

Stars strike 20 seconds apart

DAL@STL, Gm 6: Janmark, Fiddler score two quick goals

R2, Gm6: Mattias Janmark opens the scoring by going top-shelf, then Vernon Fiddler strikes 20 seconds later on a nice tip early in the 1st

00:44 •

The Dallas Stars scored two goals in 20 seconds to take a 2-0 lead against the St. Louis Blues in Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round at Scottrade Center on Monday.

Stars forward Mattias Janmark scored on a wrist shot past Blues goalie Brian Elliott at 4:53 of the first period to give Dallas a 1-0 lead. Vernon Fiddler's redirection of a centering pass by Colton Sceviour at 5:13 put Dallas up 2-0.

5 Keys: Stars at Blues, Game 6

Dallas needs top players to step up; St. Louis has to continue to make its own luck

ST. LOUIS -- The Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues play Game 6 of their Western Conference Second Round series at Scottrade Center on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports). The Blues lead the best-of-7 series 3-2.

Agnew: Stars must 'get more numbers' around Elliott

Former NHL assistant says Dallas has to get to net against Blues in Game 6

For additional insight into the Western Conference Second Round series between the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues, NHL.com has enlisted the help of Gary Agnew to break down the action. Agnew will be checking in throughout the series.

Agnew, 55, was an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets. He also served as interim coach of the Blue Jackets for five games during the 2006-07 season, and he has been coach of Syracuse of the American Hockey League and London and Kingston of the Ontario Hockey League.

ST. LOUIS -- It was a game of missed opportunities, at least for the Dallas Stars. And for the St. Louis Blues? It was all about goaltender Brian Elliott.

Spezza has become invaluable for Stars

DALLAS -- Inside the Dallas Stars dressing room, Jason Spezza is singing. He's not just mouthing the words, or half-singing his way through the verses. No, he's singing, full-on belting it out. All he's missing is a hairbrush held under his mouth or a shower stall or a car radio blaring.

Next to him, Ales Hemsky is singing too, though softer, a bit more self-consciously.

"You're still the onnnnnne…" he croons, a smile lighting his face, a giggle on the verge of breaking through.

Eaves travels with Stars for Game 6

Forward has been out of lineup since injured in Game 1 against Blues; Seguin stays behind

by
Steve Hunt
/ NHL.com Correspondent

DALLAS -- Forward Patrick Eaves traveled with the Dallas Stars for Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports 2), but Tyler Seguin did not.

Eaves, who had five points in the first round against the Minnesota Wild, a series the Stars won in six games, hasn't played since Game 1, when he injured his right leg when hit by teammate Stephen Johns' slap shot late in the third period.